Urgent (I think) Quick Parameter Question Question

[ShaggyRS6]

I did post this in my build thread, but I think it got lost in the mix. I recently cycled my tank with live rock from Tampa Bay, the second shipment arrived yesterday, everything from a Parameter perspective was low, so the second shipment arrived. It was in and was suggested I could add one fish which I did today, a goby.

I did a water check later on in the afternoon and have the following:

Ammonia - 0.2 (maybe a tad more)
Nitrates - 2.0
Nitrites - 0.2

I am assuming the additional rock has caused this. Just want to know if I should worry and what my next steps should be. I do have water made up if I need to do a change tomorrow.

Thanks guys, and sorry for re-posting here and not being patient for an answer on my build thread.

 

[vetteguy53081]

These are Not off the wall readings. Now that you have measurable levels, you can test every two days to see if they lower and it will determine state of your tank and effectiveness of filters

 

[ShaggyRS6]

These are Not off the wall readings. Now that you have measurable levels, you can test every two days to see if they lower and it will determine state of your tank and effectiveness of filters

Vetteguy thanks so much for the quick reply. Panicking like a baby here I’ll test first thing in the morning to see what’s what. Thank you once again sir!

 

[vetteguy53081]

Vetteguy thanks so much for the quick reply. Panicking like a baby here I’ll test first thing in the morning to see what’s what. Thank you once again sir!

And if you are ever uncertain about test results, I always recommend to take a water sample to a trusted LFS for a second opinion and for comparison

 

[ShaggyRS6]

K thanks! Will do that tomorrow as well. Thanks again. Is there anything I can buy tomorrow to keep in my back pocket if things go in the wrong direction?

 

[NoLobster]

When you add new "live" rock, it may have had some organics die off which would cause an ammonia spike. I would continue to monitor Ammonia and Nitrites. These can be deadly to your goby even in small amounts. If they continue to rise, do large water changes to decrease the values. As long as you keep a careful eye on the parameters the fish should be fine.

 

[ShaggyRS6]

When you add new "live" rock, it may have had some organics die off which would cause an ammonia spike. I would continue to monitor Ammonia and Nitrites. These can be deadly to your goby even in small amounts. If they continue to rise, do large water changes to decrease the values. As long as you keep a careful eye on the parameters the fish should be fine.

Ok thanks! I have plenty of water on hand. I'll check in the morning Thank you guys!

 

[The Aquatic Arsenal]

You can use do a water change to be on the safe side. It wouldn't hurt anything by doing it.

 

[Brew12]

Keep in mind that nitrites aren't a problem with marine fish. Small amounts are lethal to FW fish but the chlorides in the water protect marine fish.

You can add something like Prime to protect your fish from the ammonia if needed by adding it every 3 days until the ammonia is consistently at 0ppm.

 

[NoLobster]

I didn't realize Nitrite wasn't harmful for Marine fish but looked up a few studies after reading your post. Thanks!

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Keep in mind that nitrites aren't a problem with marine fish. Small amounts are lethal to FW fish but the chlorides in the water protect marine fish.

You can add something like Prime to protect your fish from the ammonia if needed by adding it every 3 days until the ammonia is consistently at 0ppm.

Thanks I'll grab some tomorrow if the LFS has some!

 

[ShaggyRS6]

No change this morning although I might say the Ammonia reading was 0.2 today rather than being on the higher side of 0.2 like yesterday .

Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrates - 2.0
Nitrites - 0.2

 

[vetteguy53081]

No change this morning although I might say the Ammonia reading was 0.2 today rather than being on the higher side of 0.2 like yesterday .

Ammonia - 0.2
Nitrates - 2.0
Nitrites - 0.2

What filtration are you running? Skimmer?

 

[ShaggyRS6]

Just running the live rock and filter socks. I have the Nyos 160. But still trying to get that tuned

 

[Sashaka]

Keep in mind that nitrites aren't a problem with marine fish. Small amounts are lethal to FW fish but the chlorides in the water protect marine fish.

You can add something like Prime to protect your fish from the ammonia if needed by adding it every 3 days until the ammonia is consistently at 0ppm.

I read some studies on nitrites on saltwater fish and understood that high levels would still be toxic. Is this correct thinking? (Example, uncycled sick tanks. Before I started using Marine Pure blocks to cycle sick tank, I lost fish even when ammonia badge read zero and all other water parameters looked good but Nitrites were high and of course did not register on the badge. I assumed that was the cause of the deaths at the time.) Thanks!

 

[Brew12]

I didn't realize Nitrite wasn't harmful for Marine fish but looked up a few studies after reading your post. Thanks!

I read some studies on nitrites on saltwater fish and understood that high levels would still be toxic. Is this correct thinking? (Example, uncycled sick tanks) Thanks!

I should have been more clear on this. Nitrites are just as toxic to marine fish as they are to fresh water fish. The same receptors in fish that would absorb the nitrite from the water prefer chlorides. If you have 19,000ppm chloride and 2ppm nitrite a negligible amount of nitrite will be absorbed by the fish. However, if nitrites get high enough or chlorides low enough, it is possible that enough nitrite can be absorbed to cause toxicity in marine fish. Where that changes over seems to be very species dependent

 

[vetteguy53081]

What filtration are you running? Skimmer?

Great for sediment entrapment but ineffective for breakdown of waste in which ammonia and nitrate can be of risk to both fish and coral health. You are going to need more or more effective method for breakdown of waste. I assume you have no sump ? if you do, run carbon. In addition, add liquid bacteria such as bacter 7 to keep your cultures of bacteria stable and active for waste breakdown. For nitrate, any method of removal such as Cheato or mangroves, even an algae scrubber will be rendered very effective. Although we want to keep these numbers low, we don't want to maintain Zero as crazy as it sounds

 

[Sashaka]

I should have been more clear on this. Nitrites are just as toxic to marine fish as they are to fresh water fish. The same receptors in fish that would absorb the nitrite from the water prefer chlorides. If you have 19,000ppm chloride and 2ppm nitrite a negligible amount of nitrite will be absorbed by the fish. However, if nitrites get high enough or chlorides low enough, it is possible that enough nitrite can be absorbed to cause toxicity in marine fish. Where that changes over seems to be very species dependent

Ahhh. Thank you for the clarification.

 

[Randy Holmes-Farley Verified Community Expert]

I read some studies on nitrites on saltwater fish and understood that high levels would still be toxic. Is this correct thinking? (Example, uncycled sick tanks. Before I started using Marine Pure blocks to cycle sick tank, I lost fish even when ammonia badge read zero and all other water parameters looked good but Nitrites were high and of course did not register on the badge. I assumed that was the cause of the deaths at the time.) Thanks!

I don't think there's convincing evidence that nitrite is a concern in any operating reef tank. Even 5 ppm should be OK in a marine system, and that is rare.

 

[Sashaka]

I don't think there's convincing evidence that nitrite is a concern in any operating reef tank. Even 5 ppm should be OK in a marine system, and that is rare.

Thank you, Randy, for your quick response. Does that evidence hold true in a sick tank too where a new cycle would be less stable than in a cycled reef tank? Your shared expertise is much appreciated.